Many older Americans are concerned about having enough money to retire comfortably. In fact, a recent survey found working Americans age 45 and older expect they will need about $1.1 million in savings in order to retire, but only 21% of people in that age group expect to have even $1 million. That’s down slightly from the 24% in 2022 who said they expected to save that much. The survey also found that 59% of those workers expect to have less than $500,000 saved for retirement, including 34% who said they will have less than $250,000.

The traditional approach to retirement planning has been to accumulate a significant nest egg through saving and investing. However, for some people, this may not be enough. This is where a reverse mortgage can help.

A reverse mortgage is a type of loan that allows homeowners to convert home equity into cash without having to sell their home or make monthly mortgage payments. Instead, the comes due when the borrower sells the home or passes away. Reverse mortgages can be an attractive option for retirees who want to access the equity in their homes to supplement their retirement income.

For many retirees, their home is their largest asset. According to the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association, homeowners age 62 and older had $11.81 trillion in home equity in the third quarter of 2022. A reverse mortgage can provide a way for homeowners to tap into that equity and use it to fund their retirement.

One way to use a reverse mortgage is to establish a line of credit. This allows homeowners to access funds as needed, without having to take out a lump sum loan. The line of credit can be used to pay for expenses such as healthcare costs, home repairs, or travel. Unused funds in the line of credit will continue to grow over time, providing an additional source of income in retirement.

Another way to use a reverse mortgage is to take out a lump sum loan. This can be useful for retirees who need a large sum of money upfront to pay off debts or make a major purchase. The lump sum can also be used to supplement retirement income or pay for long-term care.

A reverse mortgage is a FHA backed loan available to seniors 62 and over.

Jan Jordan is a Reverse Mortgage Specialist serving the Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont, Greeley, and Front Range areas of Colorado as well as Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming. Click here to contact Jan and learn if reverse mortgage is right for you.